notion

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnəʊʃən/ (UK); /ˈnoʊʃən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin notio (“a becoming acquainted; a concept, idea”),^[2][3][4] from not-, the past participle stem of nōscere (“to come to know”) (see know),^[2][4][5] from PIE Proto-Indo-European *gno- (“to know”).^[3] Cicero coined it as a loan-translation of Greek ennoia, thinking, or prolēpsis, a previous conception.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A concept or conception: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew;^[2] the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Inclination or desire is from 1450.^[2] A general concept under which a thing is comprehended is from 1567,^[6] and an opinion or somewhat vague belief from about 1600.^[3] A whim or not very rational inclination is by 1746.^[3] Notions, small articles such as sewing goods sold by Yankee peddlers, is American English by 1803.^[3]

Timeline

• before 1398 – a concept.^[2]
• 1450 – inclination.^[2]
• c. 1600 – an opinion.^[3]
• 1746 – a whim.^[3]
• 1803 – notions, small wares.^[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A belief or idea; an opinion.
2. A general understanding; a vague idea: no notion of time.
3. A sudden desire or whim.
4. (notions, chiefly US) Small useful articles such as buttons and thread.

Word family

• notionless
• notionate
• prenotion
• notional

Related words

• notice
• note
• know
• notorious
• cognition

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press